The Walala Wonderland | WALALA X PLAY at NOW Gallery

July 14, 2017

It’s definitely no secret that I’m a long time fan of graphic artist Camille Walala’s colourful creations so, on the discovery of the opening of her latest exhibition, you’ve got to know that I was probably one of the first to hit RSVP. Distinctive, bold, geometric and colourful, Walala’s creations have been a permanent fixture on my Instagram, quietly documenting her takeover of the world with her frivolous designs and playful personality.

Her latest exhibition, based in Greenwich Peninsula’s NOW Gallery is nothing short of amazing. Selected as the gallery’s 2017 Design Collaborator, Walala has created WALALA X PLAY – a brand new interactive (and bloomin’ marvellous) installation for the summer programme. Occupying NOW’s main exhibition area from 14 July to 24 September, the installation invites visitors of all ages to explore the space via a maze of geometric patterns, unpredictable corridors and Walala’s distinctive bold colours. Mirrors adorn parts of the walls for a trippy yet satisfactory selfie experience.

While I thought it might just be myself running around like a child, shoeless, waving my hands in the air, it’s pretty apparent that the exhibition is already bringing out the inner toddler in most. Describing the new space as a ‘temple to wonder’, Walala has purposefully designed the area in order for visitors to lose themselves in colour and pattern. Walls at alternative heights, teeny undiscovered passageways, suspended shapes and huge mirror walkways bring about an extremely playful experience and a lasting visual impression – this baby is going to dominate Instagram over Summer.

Playing on these child-like fantasies, the heart of the installation is a puzzle – a giant three-dimensional game of Spot the Difference. While I was too distracted at the time to take notice of any errors, visitors can take part in a challenge: enter the space and explore its colours, patterns, shapes and scales to locate 5 anomalies within the area. It’s not easy and I’ll certainly be returning for the challenge, perhaps multiple times as the flaws will also be changing regularly, ensuring that the installation evolves and that returning visitors will have always have something new to discover.

Overall the experience is one you probably won’t just want to see once. WALALA X PLAY at NOW Gallery is free to visit, suitable for all ages, and showing from 14 July until 24 September 2017. I’ll be returning with my little brother and sister to give them a Walala fix and of course a little bit of EJP – when will you be going?